Casting and trimming machine



March 24, 1942. F, R, KERNs 2,277,234

CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 6 Sheets-Shea?l 1 ATTORNEYS March 24, 1942. F, R, KERN 2,277,234

CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY 5 n.4" BY March 24, 1942. F. R, KERNS CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE 6 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Sept. 25, 1939 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS March 24, 1942. F. R. KERNS CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ITIIHIIIIIHIIlllllllllllllFDHHHHHIIIIIIIIIHH|ll] 50 INVENTOR Ff'o /(E/?Ns AWORNEYS Ww mdf Kfm F. R. KERNS CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1939 u 6 SheelZS-SheerI 5 March 24, 1942.

Patented Mar. 24, 1942 CASTING AND TRIMMING MACHINE Fred R. Kerns, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Willard Storage Battery Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of West Virginia Application September 25, 1939, Serial No. 296,381

6 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for producing cast metal articles, such as storage battery grids or other articles, and more particularly to an improved article trimming and straightening machine adapted to be applied to or incorporated in a casting machine.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved trimming machine or press and to apply the same to a casting machine, so that the castings may be trimmed immediately after being produced by the casting machine and without the delay and intermediate handling heretofore required.

Another object of my invention is to provide improvedtrimming and straightening apparatus adapted to be applied to or incorporated in a casting machine, and which operates to trim and straighten the cast articles at substantially the rate they are being produced and to deliver and stack the trimmed articles in a uniform continuous manner so as to facilitate the inspection, counting and removal of the articles.

Still another object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus for the rapid and continuous production of trimmed cast metal articles and in which the casting, trimming and stacking operations are carried out in timed relation and with the timing of the trimming operation such that the maximum permissible interval is allowed for cooling of the articles between the casting and the trimming thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus, of the type referred to, in which novel means is provided for transferring the articles by gravity directly from the casting machine to the trimming machine, and in which novel means is also provided for controlling the delivery of the articles to the trimming machine.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide improved apparatus, of the type referred to, having novel means for the delivery and stacking of the cast articles. f

The invention may be further brieiiy summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

, In the accompanying sheets of drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing article casting, trimming and stacking apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional plan view taken through the apparatus substantially as indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. l;

Fig.` 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken through the apparatus as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing the control and actuating means for the trimming machine and the association of the same with the control and actuating mechanism of the casting machine;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the feed stop and showing the same on a larger scale than in Fig. 3;

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation showing the feed stop actuating means on a larger scale than in Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a partial vertical sectional view taken as indicated by line 8-8 of Fig. 4 and further illustrating the article ejecting means of the trimming machine;

Fig. 9 is a face view of a double storage battery grid showing the same prior to the trimming thereof;

Fig. 10 is a face view of the upper die of the trimming machine, viewed as indicated by line lll-l0 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a partial side elevation showing apparatus similar to that of Fig. 1 but illustrating a modification thereof; and

Fig. 12 is an elevational view, partly in section, similar to Fig. 3 but showing my trimming press and stacking device applied to another-form of casting machine.

More detailed reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my invention embodied in apparatus for producing cast storage battery grids, but it will be understood, of course, that my invention is not to be regarded as limited to the production of the particular article mentioned but is applicable to the manufacture of various cast metal articles. It should be understood, moreover, that the invention is not limited to the particular apparatus herein disclosed, but may be embodied in lother machines and apparatus of this type.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises in general a casting machine l0 for producing the cast articles, a trimming machine or press Il for trimming and straightening the articles, and a stacking device I2 for delivering the articles.

The trimming press ll and stacking device I2 may be applied to or incorporated in various forms of casting machines but, in this instance, I show them applied to the casting machine Il) which is similar to the casting machine disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,068,420 issued January 19, 1937. Since the casting machine I is here shown mainly by way of example and is similar to the machine disclosed in detail in said issued patent, only a brief general description thereof is deemed necessary here. The machine I0 differs from that of said issued patent in that the take-out mechanism shown in the issued patent for removing the castings from the mold has been omitted and a valve I3 for controlling the trimming machine has been added.

As explained more in detail in said United States patent, the casting machine I0 has a frame I5 in which the various parts of the machine are mounted and arranged and at the front of which is a mold I6 formed by the cooperating stationary and movable mold members I6a and I6b, the latter being mounted for swinging movement into and out of engagement with the stationary mold member by means of the pivoted bracket or frame I6c. The adjacent faces of the mold members are constructed so as to cooperate in forming a mold cavity for the article to be cast, in this instance a double storage battery grid I8 as shown in Fig. 9 and having oppositely extending lugs I8a at the two upper corners. The apparatus mounted in the frame I5 of the casting machine I0 also includes an electric motor I9, as a driving means, and two transverse shafts and 2| which are driven from said motor through suitable gearing. The shaft 20 is provided at its outer end with cranks 22 for opening and closing the mold I6 and is referred to as the crankshaft. The shaft 2i is referred to as a cycle shaft and drives certain cams for carrying out the cycle of operation, including a cam 23 for actuating the valve I3 which controls the trimming machine.

As seen in Fig. 1 the frame I6c of the movable mold member I6b is connected with the cranks 22 of the shaft 20 by means of connecting rods 24, so that during rotation of the shaft the mold I6 will be alternately closed and opened. When the mold has been closed molten metal, such as lead, for forming the desired casting is poured into the mold through the gate opening 25. The pouring of the metal into the mold may be done manually as is contemplated in the semi-automatic machine disclosed in said issued patent, although, if desired. the molten metal may be poured into the mold by an automatically operating ladle 26 as shown in Fig. 11 and to be described more in detail hereinafter. Upon the opening of the mold I6 the casting remains in the cavity of the stationary mold member I6a and is loosened or ejected therefrom by ejector pins 26', whereupon the casting drops out of the mold. These ejector pins may be suitably actuated by a cam carried by the crankshaft 2l and are normally held retracted by a retracting spring 21,

The gearing connecting the shafts 20 and 2| with the driving motor I3 may include a clutch 23 (see Fig. 5) located in the casing 28a and adapted to be thrown into engagement by manual actuation of the lever 23. A foot lever or treadle 3l, located at the side of the casting machine, is also connected with the clutch for disengaging the same at the will of the operator fort; causing an emergency stopping of the appara us.

The trimming press II and the stacking device I2 may be provided with a common mount or frame 3l which extends forwardly ofthe casting machine Ill below the mold I6 thereof and which may be connected with, or an extension of, the frame I5 of the casting machine. The mount 3I may comprise laterally spaced upright plate members 32 and vertically spaced horizontal or transverse plate members 33 and 34 connected with the upright members. If desired, a suitably constructed continuous base 3Ia may extend longitudinally beneath the casting machine and the mount 3| for supporting all units of the apparatus.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the trimming press II is provided with a frame 35 which may be made up of a hollow base 35a and a crown or top 35h spaced thereabove and connected therewith by the laterally spaced tie rods 35e. The trimming press may be supported in the mount or frame 3| by means of the hollow base 35a which extends between the upright frame members 32 and is connected therewith vby means of the plates 35d and the bolts 35e.

The trimming press also includes a pair of cooperating stationary and movable trimming and straightening dies 31 and 38. The stationary die 31, which is here shown as being the upper die, may be mounted on a stationary bolster plate 39 or the like which may form a part of the frame of the trimming press. The movable die 38, which is the lower die in the construction illustrated, may be mounted on a movable bolster plate 40 which is guided by and slldable on the tie rods 35e. 'Ihe trimming press may also include a power device or actuating means which, in this instance, is in the form of the iiuid pressure cylinder 4I. 'Ihe lower bolster plate 40 is suitably mounted on the upper end of a piston rod 42 which projects from the cylinder 4I and is connected with the piston 43 of the latter. The cylinder 4I may be a double acting cylinder having fluid connections 44 and 45 adjacent opposite ends thereof so that pressure iiuid may be supplied to the cylinder for causing closing and opening of the trimming dies 31 and 38.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the trimming press II is located below the mold I6 of the casting machine I6 and is tilted or inclined to facilitate the passage of castings to and from the same. In the particular arrangement of apparatus herein illustrated the mold cavity. which is formed by the mold members of the casting mechine when these members are in their closed position, is in a substantially vertical plane and with the trimming press inclined, as just mentioned. it will be seen that the working face of the lower trimming die 38 will lie in a plane extending downwardly and awy from the plane of the cavity formed by the closed mold members. As will be further explained hereinafter, this arrangement and location for the trimming press permits the castings to pass thereto by gravity directly from the mold of the casting machine.

For this purpose, that is for conveying the castings from the molding machine to the trimming press, I may provide a chute 46 extending from the mold I6 to a point adjacent the dies of the trimming press II. The chute 46 is preferably formed of laterally spaced bars so that particles of metal which drop from the mold or the articles may readily pass therethrough and be collected in a recessed cover or pan 46a located beneath the chute. The bars forming this chute are preferably curved so as to provide free and easy passage for the castings from the mold to the trimming press with minimum jarring or bending of the castings which are usually still warm and relatively soft when ejected from the mold. 'I'he curvature of the chute 46 is preferably such that the upper end thereof is substantially tangent to the plane of the mold cavity and the lower end thereof is substantially tangent to the plane of the working face of the lower trimming die 38 when this die is in its open position.

For controlling the transfer of castings from the mold I6 to the trimming press I I by the chute 46 I provide a feed stop or control member 41 which is located at or near the lower end of the chute and adjacent the cooperating trimming dies 31 and 38. The stop 41 may comprise an elongated member or bar, of T-like cross-section or other shape, extending transversely of the chute 46 and having projecting pivot pins 48 at opposite ends thereof by which it is mounted in a pair of brackets 49 extending upwardly from the frame members 32. As will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the pivot pins 48 are located in offset relation to the longitudinal axis of the body or bar of the stop 41, so that this member will be overbalanced and will normally tend to swing downward about these pivot pins to an article-releasing position with the top of the stop substantially flush with or below the surface of the chute 46 as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 6. By means of a lever arm 58 connected with one of the pivot pins 48 the stop can be swung or lifted to an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position it will be engaged by the lower` edge of a casting descending the chute. Engagement of the casting with the stopy 41 temporarily arrests the forward travel of the casting and holds the same in the chute until the stop is lowered to permit the casting to advance into the trimming dies. Suitable means may be provided for determining the position to which the feed stop 41 may be elevated, such as the abutment screw 50a which limits the swinging movement of the lever 50.

When the castings descend the chute 46 they engage the stop 41 with some momentum and to prevent the castings from bouncing over the stop or being damaged by such engagement I may provide a plurality of resilient elements or bumpers 5I on the stop for absorbing the momentum of the castings and the shock of their engagement with the stop. The stop 41 may also be provided with a pair of spaced dvergently extending resilient guide members 52 which are engaged by the edges of the castings and tend to center and locate the latter in proper position for entry into the trimming dies when the stop is lowered At theproper time the stop 41 is lowered or permitted to drop so that the casting held thereby may pass by gravity from the chute 46 onto the face of the lower die 38. When the casting enters the trimming press its lugs I6a engage a stopping and locating means which may be in the form of a pair of xed pins or posts 53 projecting above the face of the die 38 whereby the casting is positioned and held in place for the trimming operation In Fig. 9 of the drawings I show one of the castings I8 which are formed by the mold I6 and delivered therefrom into the chute 46 for transfer to the trimming press I I in the manner above explained. AAs is usual in the case of articles produced by casting machines of this type, the casting I8 has a gate section I8b along the-'top thereof which isrequired to be trimmed off by shearing of the casting along the broken line I8c. It may be desirable to trim ofi other portions of the casting, such as the section I8d at .the lower edge thereof and the sections I8e at the ends of the lugs Ila. The cooperating dies of the trimming press II are designed to accomplish this as well as any other desired similar trimming operations on the casting, and also to flatten and straighten the casting in the event that it has become bent or warped in being ejected from the mold and delivered to the trimming press.

The trimming dies 31 and 38 may be of any form and construction suitable for the accomplishment of these trimming and straightening operations. In this instance the upper or stationary die 31 has shear elements or blades 55 which cooperate with shear elements 56 of the lower die 38 for .trimming off the portions I8b and Ild of the casting I8. The upper die may also include a pressure plate 51 which cooperates with the face of the die 38 for holding the casting in place during the trimming operation and for subjecting the casting to pressure for straightening or flattening the same. The pressure plate 51 is backed by a plurality of spaced resilient members 56 mounted in openings of the die block 58. These resilient members may be coil springs or, as shown in this instance, may be blocks of yieldable rubber with an asbestos washer, or other heat insulating means 58a interposed between the same and the pressure plate 51. The upper die 31 may be provided with a second pair of spaced shear elements 68 which cooperate with suitable portions of the lower die 38 for trimming oft' the end portions I8e of the lugs Aof the -casting I8.

In carrying out the trimming and straightening operation pressure fluid is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder 4I at the appropriate time and resulting upward movement of the piston lifts the die 38, with the casting thereon, and thereby closes the trimming press. The closing of the die 38 against the die 31 causes the cooperating shearing elements of the dies to trim the casting and also causes the cooperating faces of the dies to straighten the casting if any warped or uneven condition exists.

After the trimming operation has been performed on the casting the dies are opened by downward movement of the piston 43 and the lower die 38, and the casting is disengaged from the posts 53 is that it can slide out by gravity from between the dies. Such disengagement may be brought about in various ways, for exenough to permit the lugs I8a thereof to clear ample, by lifting the upper end' of the casting the tops of the posts 53. For this purpose I may provide the lower die 38 with an ejector 6I which operates in an opening thereof, so that its upper end may engage the under side of the casting and lift the same suftlciently to clear the posts 53. 'I'he ejector 6I may be actuated in various ways, such as by means of a lever 62 mounted on a rock shaft 63 which is carried by the reciprocable bolster plate 40. Movement may be imparted to the rock shaft 63 by means of a lever 64 thereon which engages with, and is swung by, a latch 65 upon opening of the trimming press. For this purpose the lower end of the lever 64 may have a beveled, face 64a (see Fig. 8) which engages the rounded top 65a of the latch 65 upon downward movement of the lower die and bolster plate, thereby causing swinging of the lever 64 and rocking of the shaft 63 in a direction to project the ejector 6I above the face of the die 38.

During upward movement of the die 38, that is swung on its pivot 55 which permits the lever 54 to move past the latch without causing rocking movement to be imparted to the shaft 53. A spring 88 holds the lever 54 against the latch 55 and normally maintains the ejector 5I in its retracted position.

As the portions I8b, I8d and I8e are trimmed from the casting upon the closing of the trimming dies, the portion I8d falls immediately into the hopper or chute 68 located below the trimming dies. The gate section I8b of the casting remains temporarily on the feed stop 41 and the lug sections I 8e may remain temporarily on the lower die 38. Upon opening of the trimming press the lug sections Ile slide by gravity off the lower die and drop into the hopper 59. Likewise, upon opening of the press or upon the subseqent elevation of the stop 41, the gate section I8b also slides across the face of the die 38 and drops into the hopper 58.

Upon opening of the press II following the trimming operation, the ejector 6I lifts the trimmed casting to clear the posts 53, as above explained, and the casting slides out of the press by gravity and is received upon the swinging support or stacker 10 of the stacking device I2 which delivers the trimmed casting onto a pair of laterally spaced rails 1I upon which a series of such casting may hang in vertical position by engagement of the lugs I8a thereof with the rails. The stacker 18 may comprise a plate-like member 18a having arms 10b at its ends by which it is mounted on a transverse actuating rock shaft 12 for swinging movement. The stacker is arranged so that the member 10a thereof will be spaced from the trimming press a distance to permit the trimmings from the castings to drop freely into the hopper 53 but this distance is not too great to be bridged or traversed by the trimmed casting as it slides out of the trimming dies.

The rails 1I are located above the swinging stacker 14 and are provided at the inner or adjacent end with downwardly extending curved guide members or extensions 13 between which the stacker operates. When the trimmed casting is received on the stacker 10 its lower edge strikes and rests against the resilient bumper elements 14 and its lugs bear against or lie adjacent to the curved upper edges of the guide members 18. Upon swinging of the stacker 10 upwardly about the axis of the shaft 12 the casting is lifted or pushed up onto the rails 1I. During this transfer movement the lugs of the casting may follow and be guided by the curved edges of the guide extensions 13 of the rails. These guide extensions also prevent the casting from being displaced laterally from the stacker while it is being transferred onto the rails.

Rocking movement for actuating the swinging stacker 1I| may be imparted to the shaft 12 by any suitable means such as a lever 15 which is pinned or otherwise connected to such shaft and an actuating rod 15 having operative connection with such lever. In this instance movement is imparted to the swinging stacker 10 from the frame lic of the movable mold member with which the upper end of the rod 18 is suitably connected. The lower or article-receiving position of the stacker 1II may be determined by a set screw 15a carried by one of the frame members 32 and with which the actuating lever 15 engages when the stacker returns to its lower position after delivery of a casting onto the rails 1I.

It may be desirable to provide a yieldable con- III) nection between the rod 18 and the lever 18 so that the stacker may have a variable stroke or travel and also to permit continued movement of the rod 15 after the stacker has reached the limit of its travel. For this purpose I may provide the outer end of the lever 15 with a pivoted block 15b through which the rod 1 8 may slide. Compression springs 18 and 18 disposed on opposite sides of the block serve to yieldably transmit thrust to the latter, the spring 18 being between the block and collar 16a of the rod 15 and the spring 18 being between the block and the nut 1Gb. Thus with this arrangement the rod 16 can have continued movement after the stacker 18 returns to its article-receiving position or when the stacker encounters an obstruction such as when the casting being carried thereon engages the series of castings previously transferred onto the rails 1I.

Movement for actuating the above described feed stop 41, which controls the passage of the castings from the chute 46 into the trimming dies, may be transmitted to the arm or lever 50 by any suitable means or mechanism. In this instance I show a lever pinned on the rock shaft 12 of the stacker 10 and a rod 8l connecting the lever 80 with the actuating arm or lever 50 of the stop 41. The rod 8| preferably has a yieldable conection with the lever 80 and this may be formed by providing the lever with a block 80a in which the rod is slidable. Compression springs 82 and 83 are disposed on opposite sides of the block 80a for yieldably transmitting thrust to or from the block, the spring 82 being disposed between the block and a collar 84 and the spring 83 being disposed between the block and the collar 85.

It has already been stated in a general way that the trimming press is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 4I which is connected with a control valve I3 by means of pipes or conduits 44 and 45. This control valve may be of a commercially available form which need not be described in detail other than to state that it is provided with the necessary ports and has therein a movable valve element 85 for controlling the flow of pressure and exhaust fluid through the ports and which is shiftable in one direction by the cam 23 and adapted to be shifted or returned in the opposite direction by the spring 81. Motive fluid, such as oil, can be supplied through the conduit 88 to the control valve I3 from any suitable source of pressure uid, such as the pump 89. An exhaust or return conduit 90 connects the valve I3 with a storage tank or reservoir 3|.

The valve I3 may be located at any appropriate point on the apparatus but is preferably incorporated in the casting machine III and located therein at a point adjacent the cycle'shaft 2| so that actuation of this valve in properly timed relation to the functioning of the casting machine can be obtained by means of the cam 23 which cooperates with a link or extension portion82 of the valve actuating rod 93.

I have made mention above of the foot lever or treadle 38 of the casting machine I0 by which the clutch for the driving motor I9 can be disengaged at the will of the operator during an emergency condition. It may be desirable to also provide a connection between this treadle and the actuating means for the valve I3 so that whenever an emergency condition exists and the treadle is actuated to cause stopping of the machine, the valve I3 will also be actuated to cause opening of the trimming press II. Any suitable casting therefrom. quencev of operation it will thus be seen that linkage may be provided which will cause the desired actuation of the valve I3 for this purpose, such as the linkage shown in Fig. 5 which in this instance, includes a push rod 94 and a bell crank lever 95. The bell crank lever may be mounted on a fixed pivot 96 and may have one arm thereof connected with the link 92 and the other arm connected with the push rod by a pin and slot connection 91,

In the operation of the casting and trimming apparatus herein described the operator actuates the lever 29 to engage the clutch and thereby start the casting machine |0. Upon rotation of the crankshaft 20 the mold I6 is closed and molten metal is then introduced into the mold cavity through the pouring gate or opening 25. After an appropriate interval of time, during which the solidication of the metal may be hastened by squirting water thereon, the mold is opened and the casting is dislodged from the mold section |6a by the ejector pins 26'. The

casting then drops onto the chute 46 and slides' downward thereon by gravity into engagement with the feed stop 41. The mold I6 then closes for the pouring of metal for the formation of another casting. During the closing of the mold motion is transmitted through the rod 16, rock shaft 12 and rod 8| to the stop 41 causing the same to be lowered, which permits the previously formed casting to pass out of the chute 46 and into the trimming press where it is temporarily held .by engagement of its lugs with the posts 53 as above explained. Just prior to the opening of the mold I6 for the ejection of the second casting, the valve I3 is actuated so that the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 36 is connected with the pressure fluid supply line 88 and the upper end of the cylinder is connected with the exhaust pipe 90. The press thereupon closes causing the dies 31 and 38 thereof to trim and straighten the casting.

Following this trimming and straightening operation the press immediately opens and the ejector 6I lifts the trimmed casting whereupon it slides by gravity on of the face of the lower die 38 onto the swinging stacker 10. Immediately following the opening of the trimming press and the discharge of the trimmed casting therefrom the mold |46 again opens. The opening movement of the mold causes thrust to be transmitted through the rod 16 which causes upward swinging of the stacker to transfer or lift the trimmed castingonto the rails 1|. Such actuation of the stacker 10 also causes thrust to be transmitted through the rod 8| to elevate the stop 41. When the mold n I6 has been opened sumciently the second casting is discharged ming operation is perfumed on castings which l have cooled than on castings which are still hot and relatively soft.

As above indicated in a general Way Fig. 1l shows a modified form of casting machine |0a in which the pouring of the molten metal into the mold |61: is accomplished automaticallyby means of a mechanically actuated ladle 26.' In this modified arrangement the ladle may be mounted on a bracket 98 provided on the upper portion of the casting machine and may be arranged for rocking or tilting movement, whereby molten metal may be discharged from openings 99 and thereby poured into the mold l8r. Rocking of the ladle 26 in properly timed relation to the other functions of the apparatus may be produced by means of a cam |00 provided on the cycle shaft 2|, and which transmits motion through appropriate levers or linkage |0I. Charges of molten metal of appropriate volume may be supplied to the ladle 26 in succession by means of a suitable valve-controlled conduit or spout |02.

In the modified arrangement just described it will be noted that the ladle 26 is mounted over the frame of the casting machine |0a rather than over the mold |61; With the ladle in this position I find that important advantages are obtained because molten metal which spills from the ladle falls onto the casting machine and does not come in contact with the working faces of the members constituting the mold |6. This is an advantage because the spilled particles of metal form shot or beads on cooling and if this shot falls on the mold members it adheres thereto and forms irregularities on the mold faces and this results in the production of imperfect castings which must be scrapped. Y

In the casting and trimming apparatus thus far described, I have shown my trimming press and stacking device applied to a casting machine in which one of the mold members is mounted for swinging movement and in which motion for the performance or control of certain functions of the trimming press and casting device is transmitted from the swinging mold member. I desire itto be understood, however, that my trimming press and stacking device can be applied to various forms of casting machines including those in which the movable mold member has rectilineal movement and that motion for certain control and actuating functions of the trimming press and l stacking device can be transmitted thereto from therefrom by the ejector pins 26' and slides down l the chuteI 46 into engagement with the stop 41 which has just been elevated. The casting remains at this point until the moldagain closes, whereupon the stop 41 is lowered and the casting moves into the trimming press. The press does not close immediately but, as above explained, remains open until just prior to the opening of the mold for the ejection of the next With this timing and sethe castings ejected from the mold I6 are not trimmedv by the press until just prior to the various portions or members of the casting machine other than the movable mold member. For example, in Fig. 12 of the drawings, I show a casting machine |03 which may be a hydraulic type of casting machine, such as that disclosed in copending application, Serial No. 198,094, filed March 25, 1938, now Patent No. 2,227,872 granted January '1, 1941, and to which my trimming press IIa and stacking device |2a have been applied.

The casting machine |03 need not be here described in complete detail, but as shown in Fig. 12, has a mold |04 comprising cooperating stationary and movable mold members |05 and |06 of which the mold member |06 is reciprocably movable toward and away from the stationary mold member |05. 'Ihis casting machine also includes a transversely extending shaft 35s which is suitably driven to produce or control the desired timed actuation of the mold and from which motion may be taken for the control or actuating functions of the trimming press and stacking device, as will be presently explained.

The trimming press lla is similar in construction to the trimming press of Fig. 1, and as `shown in Fig. 12, may be arranged below the age such as the lever |l0, rod and the leverV ||2, the latter of which carries a roller or cam follower ||3 for cooperation with a cam ||4 mounted on the shaft 30s.

The swinging stacker operates to elevate the trimmed castings in succession and deposit the same on the laterally spaced rails H5. Mo-

Vtion for this actuation of the stacker |08 may be transmitted thereto from the shaft s through the lever ||0, the rod ||1 and the pivoted lever ||0 carrying a roller or follower ||0 which cooperates with a cam also mounted on the shaft 35s.

As in the case of the trimming press previously described, the press Ila has suitable cooperating dies |2| and |22 for performing the desired trimming operation on the castings and has a hydraulic cylinder |23 for causing closing and opening of the dies in the performance of this trimming operation. Spaced posts or pins |24 catch and temporarily hold each casting in proper position in the press for the trimming operation after which the casting is ejected in the manner already described for the trimming press Pressure uid is applied to the cylinder |23 for causing actuation of the press ||a in the desired timed relation to the operation of the casting machine |04, the feed stop |00 and the stacker |00. For this purpose I provide a control valve lia similar to the control valve I3 of Fig. 1 and which operates to control the supply of pressure fluid to the cylinder and the release of exhaust uid therefrom. The valve |3a is supported adjacent the shaft 35s by the bracket |25 and may be actuated by motion transmitted thereto from the shaft 35s through a pivoted lever |26 carrying a follower or roller |21 which cooperates with a valve actuating cam |20 mounted on the shaft 35s. Motive fluid may be supplied to and exhausted from the valve lla by the pipes |28 and |29, respectively, and other pipes |30 and |3| connect the valve Ila with the ends of the cylinder |21. f

If desired, an emergency stop device may be applied to this modified form of casting and trimming apparatus similar to that above described in connection with the apparatus of Fig. l. This safety stop device may include a pivoted foot lever |32 having its inner end connected with the valve actuating lever |20 through suitable linkage such as the lever |33 and the connecting rods III and |30. The upper end oi' the rod`|l5 may be connected with the lever |20 by a lost' motion connecting means |30 so that when the angular position of the valve actuating cam |20.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will now be readily seen that I have provided improved apparatus for the casting, trimming and stacking of articles, such as storage battery grids, and which provides for carrying out the casting, trimming and stacking operations in an efficient, uniform and continuous manner. By incorporating the trimming machine in the casting apparatus, as herein disclosed, it will be seen that the articles can be trimmed at substantially the rate of production by the casting machine and the intermediate handling and storage of the articles heretofore required between the casting and trimming operations is eliminated. Moreover, in the improved apparatus which I have devised the trimmed castings are delivered from the trimming press by a stacking device which arranges the castings in regular order so that inspection, counting and removal thereof is greatly facilitated.

While I have illustrated and described my improved apparatus in a somewhat detailed manner, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as limited to the particular construction and arrangement of the apparatus herein disclosed, but includes such modifications and variations thereof as do not constitute a departure from the spirit of the invention and scope bf the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a mold comprising relatively movable members providing a mold cavity lying in a substantially upright plane and adapted to be opened for the release of a casting therefrom, a trimming means below said mold comprising cooperating members the lower of which has a working face lying substantially in a plane extending outwardly and downwardly with respect to the plane of the mold cavity, and' a chute extending between the mold and trimming means for transferring the castings directly to the latter by gravity, said chute being curved and having its respective ends substantially tangent to the plane of the mold cavity and to the working face of the lower member of the trimming means.

2. In a machine of the character described, a mold comprising relatively movable members and adapted to be opened for the release of a casting therefrom, a trimming means below said mold and operable to trim castings supplied thereto, a chute leading from said mold to the trimming means for transferring the castings by gravity directly from the mold to the trimming means, a movable stop adjacent -the trimming means for controlling the passage of castings to the trimming means from the lower end of said chute, and means for actuating said stop in timed relation to the operation of said trimming means.

3. In a machine of the character described, a mold comprising relatively movable members and adapted to be opened for the release of a casting therefrom, a trimming means below said mold and operable to trim castings supplied thereto, a chute leading from said mold to the trimming means for transferring the castings by gravity directly from the mold to the trimming means,

and a stop adjacent the trimming means operable to control the passage of castings to the trimming means from the lower end of said chute, said stop having resilient means -thereon adapted to be engaged and moved by the castings for absorbingthe momentum thereof.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a mold comprising relatively movable members providing a mold cavity lying in a substantially upright plane and adapted to be opened for the discharge of a casting therefrom by `gravity,- a trimming means below said mold comprising cooperating relatively reciprocable press members the lower of which has a working face adapted said swinging support, said working face of thev trimming means and the lower portion of said chute all lying substantially in a common plane extending downwardly and outwardly with respect to the plane of the mold cavity.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a mold comprising relatively movable members providing a mold cavity lying in a substantially upright plane and adapted to be opened for the discharge of a casting therefrom by gravity, a trimming means'below said mold comprising cooperating relatively reciprocable press members the lower of which has a working face adapted to receive a castingl to be trimmed, means for actuating said trimming means, a curved chute extending from the mold cavity to the trimming means for transferring castings from the former to the latter, a rack providing a holder for trimmed castings, a swinging support having an article-receiving position adjacent the trimming means and adapted to receive a trimmed casting and to deliver the same onto said rack, said swinging support, said working face of the trimming means and the lower portion of said chute all lying substantially in a common plane extending downwardly and outwardly with respect to the plane of the mold cavity, a stop adapted to control the passage of castings from the delivery end of said chute to said trimming means and being movable into and out of an article-engaging pcsition in the chute, and means for actuating said stop and said swinging support in timed relation to the actuation of said trimming means.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a mold comprising relatively movable members providing a mold cavity lying in a substantially upright plane and adapted to be opened for the discharge of a casting therefrom by gravity, a trimming means below said mold comprising cooperating relatively reciprocable press members the lo'wer of which has a working face adapted to receive a casting to be trimmed, means for actuating said trimming means, a curved chute extending from the mold cavity to the trimming means for transferring castings from the former to the latter, a rack providing a holder for trimmed castings, a swinging support having an article-receiving position adjacent the trimming means and adapted to receive a trimmed casting and to deliver the sameonto said rack, said swinging support, said working face of the trimming means and the lower portion of said chute all lying substantially in a common plane extending downwardly and outwardly with respect to the plane of the mold cavity, a stop adapted to control the passage of castings from the delivery end of said chute to said trimming means and being movable into and out of an articleengaging position in the chute, and means for actuating said stop and said swinging support in timed relation to the actuation of said trimming means, said chute comprising bars spaced laterally to permit lead particles to drop therethrough and the article-receiving position of said swinging support being spaced from the trimming means to permit trimmings to drop therebetween.

FRED R. KERNS. 

